Latest Version of MOtor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES)
MOVES3: Latest Version of Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator
EPA's MOtor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) is a state-of-the-science emission modeling system that estimates emissions for mobile sources at the national, county, and project level for criteria air pollutants, greenhouse gases, and air toxics.
Background on MOVES3
MOVES3 is now the latest official version of MOVES and has been updated and improved from the previous version by:
- Incorporating the latest data on vehicle populations, travel activity, and emission rates as well as updated fuel supply information at the county level.
- Adjusting modeling to better account for vehicle starts, long-haul truck hotelling, and off-network idling.
- Incorporating the impacts of the Heavy-Duty Greenhouse Gas Phase 2 rule and the Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule.
- Improving the user interface to make the model easier to use and updating the platform for compatibility with newer software.
These updates ensure that MOVES3 is a state-of the-science model to estimate motor vehicle emissions and the most accurate tool for estimating emissions from the transportation sector for most purposes.
Guidance and Other Information
- EPA Releases MOVES3 Mobile Source Emissions Model: Questions and Answers (PDF) (6 pp, 236 K, November 2020, EPA-420-F-20-050) highlights the difference between MOVES3 and earlier versions of MOVES.
- Federal Register Notice of Availability: Official Release of MOVES3 Motor Vehicle Emissions Model for Emissions Inventories in SIPs and Transportation Conformity (PDF) (5 pp, 260 K, published January 7, 2021)
This notice announced the use of MOVES3 for official SIP development and transportation conformity purposes in states other than California. - Policy Guidance on the Use of MOVES3 for State Implementation Plan Development, Transportation Conformity, and Other Purposes (PDF) (21 pp, 455 K, November 2020, EPA-420-B-20-044) Guidance on how and when to use MOVES3 for SIP development, transportation conformity, general conformity, and other purposes in states other than California.
- MOVES3 Technical Guidance: Using MOVES to Prepare Emission Inventories for State Implementation Plans and Transportation Conformity (PDF) (76 pp, 1 MB, November 2020, EPA-420-B-20-052): Guidance on appropriate input assumptions and sources of data for the use of MOVES3 in SIP development and regional emissions analyses for transportation conformity determinations in states other than California. It also includes guidance on developing nonroad inventories with MOVES3.
- See State and Local Transportation Resources for further information on transportation conformity and SIPs.
- Onroad and nonroad technical reports that explain MOVES inputs, including changes for MOVES3 are available.
Downloading MOVES3
- Download MOVES3(EXE)(221 MB, November 2020) : After downloading the setup file, run MOVES3.0-Setup-20201110.exe and follow the on-screen instructions to complete MOVES3 installation.
MOVES User Materials
- MOVES3 does not have a stand-alone user guide. Some user help information is integrated into the model itself.
- MOVES training materials provide detailed information on running MOVES.
- The MOVES GitHub siteExit provides access to the MOVES source code and additional documentation.